Hack.



Maf/7025565.

J. A. COSTA.-

HAoK.

` APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1908.

Patented Mar. 23, 1909.

. recess and when the seat cushions are in JOSEPH A. COSTA, OF EAST CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

HACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 23, 1909.

Application filed July 17, 1908. Serial 110.443,946.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. Cos'iA, a citizen of `the United States, residing at East Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and usefullmprovements in Hacks, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved vehicle having the appearance and general characteristics of a hack and which may be used as suoli and which may be converted into an ambulance having the outward appearance of a hack.

The object of my invention is to provide a vehicle of the character described having one of its longitudinal sides so constructed with an opening and specially arranged doors therefor that a stretcher or supplemental seat may be easily removed through said opening while said stretcher bears a patient, and the object is further to provide a suitable recess in the forward part of the vehicle accessible from the in side into which the stretcher may beplaeed when not in use.

In the attainment of the object above set forth l have produced a vehicle which when the stretcher is folded up and placed in its place, has the appearance and characteristics of an ordinary hack, but which may in a few moments be converted into an ainbulance so constructed and arranged that when it is desired to remove and replace the stretcher having` a patient thereon an opening in one of the longitudinal sides of the vehicle may be opened up to its full extent so as to permit the stretcher to be removed therethrough directly onto the sidewalk or onto the steps of a building.

The invention still further consists in the combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hack ambulance embodying my invention, the stretcher or supplemental seat being shown in place in the vehicle and both doors opened in the side to permit the removal of the stretcher. Fig. 2

is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,V

looking toward the right but with the stretcher folded and placed within the recess which is provided for, such purpose. Fig. 3

lbroken so to speak by is a detail longitudinal section through the recess showing the stretcher therein.

Like numerals referto like parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

1n the drawings, 5 is the body of a vehicle which as shown has the general characteristics of an ordinary hack, but which is provided in one of its longitudinal sides with an opening 6 which is almost twice the 'size of the ordinary opening in the side of a hack.

ITo close the opening 6,- 1 provide a door 7 pivoted to swing on hinges 8, 8 after the manner of'an ordinary hack door and a second door 9 pivoted to swing on a horizontal hinge or hinges 10 at the upper edge of the opening and which as shown in the drawing is adapted to be swung into a horizontal position. is adapted to be supported by a toggle 11 comprising two members 12 and 13 pivotally connected to each other at 14, the member 12 being pivotally connectedat 15 to the body and the member 13 being pivotally connected at 16 to the ,door 9. When it is desired to close the vehicle, the toggle 11 is ushing upwardly toward the left, Fig. 2, at its middle portion, thereby permitting the door 9 to swing directly into a plane in the side of the vehicle, said toggle passing into a suitable recess 17 formed in the front wall of the vehicle.

v1When the door 9 is thus closed, it may be locked by means of any suitable or desired locking device 18.

The door 9 is preferably rabbeted or grooved at 19 to fit a correspondingly rabbeted or grooved place 20 formed in 'the side of the vehicle so as to produce a tight joint. In like 'manner the vehicle isalso provided at the lower edge of the opening 6 with a rabbeted portion 21 which is adapted to receive the lower edge of the door 9. The left hand edge of the door 9 is preferably rabbeted at 22 to receive a correspondingly rabbeted portion 23 in one edge of the door 7, whereby when the two doors are closed their abutting edges form a weathertight joint.

The vehicle is provided as all ordinary hacks are with two seats 24: and 25 which when the vehicle is to be used simply as a hack are adapted to receive cushions, but

which when the vehicle is to be used as an ambulance are adapted to support a supple- Vfhen in such position the door 9l mental seat or stretcher 26. The middle portion of the supplemental seat or stretcher 26 is supported by a su y port 27 which rests at its front and rear edlges on the seats 24 and 25, but which may be moved from said position forward onto the seat 25. The stretcher 26 in practice is in width only about half the width of the vehicle and the remaining halfof the width of the vehicle may be utilized for the doctor and nurse, who sit upon the remaining portions of the seats 24 and 25 at one side of the stretcher.

When it is desired to remove the stretcher with a patient thereon this is d one by opening the doors 7 and 9 into the position shown in the drawing after which the forward end of the stretcher may be swung out through the opening 6 and the stretcher may be conveniently removed therethrough. This is very convenient where the vehicle is standing beside the side walk or the steps of a building in which case persons who carry the stretcher step directly onto the sidewalk or steps.

l/Vhen it is desired to convert the vehicle from an ambulance into an ordinary hack, this is done by folding the stretcher 26 and placing the same in a recess 28 formed in a neck 29 which extends forwardly 'from the main portion of the vvehicle and a part of which constitutes the drivers seat, said recess having an opening in its rear end, whereby the stretcher may be easily introduced therein, suoli recess providing ample storage space for the stretcher. The support 27 is then removed from the position shown in the drawing and may be either slid forward along the seat 25 or maybe placed in the recess 28, if desired. The seat and back cushions are then put in place, the door 9 is closed and locked and the vehicle then has all the outward characteristics of an ordinary hack.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

l. A vehicle comprising a body having an unobstructed opening in one longitudinal side thereof, seats within said body, a supplemental seat supported above said firstnamed seats, and two doors normally extending across said opening, said doors having abutting edges and adapted to be opened to the full extent of said opening, whereby said supplemental seat may be removed through said opening.

2. A vehicle comprising a body having an unobstructed opening in one longitudinal side thereof, seats within said body, a supplemental seat supported above said firstnamed seats and two doors normally extending across said opening and having abutting edges, one of said doors being hinged at one side of said opening and the other of said doors being hinged at another side of said opening, said doors being adapted to be opened to the full extent of said opening, whereby said supplemental seat may be removed therethrough.

3. A vehicle comprising a body having an opening in one longitudinal side thereof', seats within said body, a supplemental seat supported above said first-named seats, two doors normally extending across said opening and having abutting' edges, one of said doors being hinged on one upright side of said opening` and the other of said doors being hinged on the upper horizontal edge of saidv opening, said doors being adapted to be opened to the full extent of said opening, whereby said supplemental seat may be removed theretln'ough, and means for supporting said second-named door in its open position.

4. A vehicle comprising a body having an opening in one longitudinal side thereof, seats within said body, a supplemental seat supported above said first-named seats, two doors normally extending across said opening and having abutting edges, one of said doors being' hinged on one upright side of said opening and the other of said d oors beinghin ged on the upper horizontal edge of said opening, said doors being' adapted to be opened to the full extent of said opening, whereby said supplemental seat may be removed therethrough, and a toggle adapted to support said second-named door' in its opened position, said toggle comprising two members pivotallyeonnected to each other and to said body and said second-named door, respectively.

5. A vehicle comprising' a body having an unobstructed opening in one longitudinal side thereof, seats within. said body, the upper side of one of said seats being of substantially the same height as the lower edge of a part of said opening, a supplemental seat supported above said vfirst-named seats,and two doors normally extending across said opening', said doors having abutting edges and adapted to be opened, whereby said supplemental seat may be removed through said opening.

6. A vehicle comprising a body having an unobstructed opening in one longitiulinal side thereof, seats within said body, the upper side of one of said seats being of substantially the same height as the lower edge of a part of said opening, a supplemental seat located above said first-named seats, and means to close said opening, said means being movable to permit said supplemental seat to be removed through said opening.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in `presence of two subscribing wil'- nesses.

JOSEPH A. COSTA. lVitnesses LoUrs A. JONES, SADIE V. MCCARTHY. 

